UK & Sussex Housing News: August 2026

The housing market stayed subdued as August opened. Nationwide reported the slowest annual price growth in months, the Bank of England left its base rate on hold again, and Sussex values remained a touch below where they sat a year ago. Here is what changed in the past fortnight and what it means if you are planning a move.

Nationwide: UK house prices barely moved in July

Nationwide reported that UK house prices rose by just 0.1% in July, taking the average price to £277,542, while annual growth slowed to 1.8% from 2.2% in June. The lender described price growth as remaining subdued, with affordability and higher borrowing costs still holding activity back. Source: Nationwide House Price Index.

Bank of England holds the base rate at 3.75%

At its meeting on 30 July, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee voted 6 to 3 to keep Bank Rate at 3.75%, the fifth meeting running at that level, with the three dissenters wanting a rise to 4% on inflation concerns. The next scheduled decision is on 17 September, so mortgage pricing is likely to stay broadly where it is over the summer. Source: Bank of England.

The Sussex picture

Local values remain slightly softer than a year ago. The most recent ONS figures, for May 2026, put the average home in Brighton and Hove at about £404,000, down 1.4% over the year, against a South East average of roughly £477,000. That leaves buyers with a little more room to negotiate than the headline national growth rate suggests. Source: ONS.

What it means if you are moving

With rates on hold and prices flat, careful budgeting matters more than trying to time the market. Work out your stamp duty before you make an offer and factor in the full cost of the move. Our stamp duty calculator and guide to the cost of moving house in Sussex can help you plan.